Chlorite is a distinctive gray-green stone that was utilized during antiquity for the fabrication of luxurious containers in the greater Gulf region as well as southern Iran. Excavations at the archeological site of Tepe Yaya, dated to the mid-third millennium B.C., in Iran unearthed the ruins of workshops where such vessels were discovered. As well, raw materials used for their manufacture, chlorite as well as steatite, quarried from the nearby hills were also present. On the island of Tarut, in the Gulf close to the Arabian coast, over six hundred complete and fragmentary vessels and weights have been unearthed. Because many partially formed objects foundon Tarutwerediscovered next to chunks of unworked chlorite, it has beensurmisedthatthisislandwasonceacenter of production for these works. ntercultural Style Chlorite Vase - X.0319Origin: Near East Circa: 3000 BCto2000BCCollection:Near Eastern Style:Intercultural Style Medium: Chlorite

Antiquities
Ancient Near East